You know that feeling. You woke up, hit the snooze button three times, and now your hair looks like it’s been dipped in a deep fryer. It’s frustrating. Grease happens to the best of us, and while some people can go five days without a wash, others look like a slick mess by 4:00 PM.
Honestly, learning how to get rid of oil in hair isn't just about scrubbing harder in the shower. It’s actually a delicate balancing act between your sebaceous glands and the environment. If you strip away every last drop of moisture, your scalp panics. It thinks there’s a desert up there, so it pumps out even more oil to compensate. You’re stuck in a loop. Breaking that cycle requires a bit of science and a lot of patience.
Why Your Scalp Is Basically an Oil Refinery
Your scalp is covered in tiny sebaceous glands. These glands produce sebum, which is a natural waxy substance designed to protect your hair and keep your skin waterproof. It’s actually a good thing! Without it, your hair would be brittle, snap off, and feel like straw. But sometimes, factors like hormones, humidity, or even the wrong shampoo can kick these glands into overdrive.
Genetics play a huge role here. If your parents had oily hair, you probably will too. Also, hair texture matters. If you have fine, straight hair, the oil has a straight shot from the root down the hair shaft. There’s no curl or wave to slow it down. This is why people with pin-straight hair often feel the need to wash every single morning.
The Right Way to Wash (Yes, There’s a Wrong Way)
Most people just slap shampoo on their head, scrub for ten seconds, and rinse. That’s not cutting it. If you want to effectively how to get rid of oil in hair, you have to focus on the scalp, not the ends.
Start by using lukewarm water. Hot water feels great, but it actually stimulates the sebaceous glands and can cause more oil production later. Apply a nickel-sized amount of clarifying shampoo directly to the roots. Use your fingertips—not your nails—to massage the skin in circular motions. You’re trying to break up the "plug" of oil and dead skin cells.
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Rinsing is the part everyone rushes. Spend twice as long rinsing as you did lathering. Leftover product residue is one of the biggest culprits of "phantom grease." When you apply conditioner, keep it away from the top three inches of your hair. Your scalp already has enough moisture; your ends are what actually need the help.
Double Washing: Is It Worth the Hype?
You’ve probably seen people on TikTok talking about "double cleansing" their hair. It sounds like a marketing ploy, but it’s legit. The first wash breaks down the buildup of dry shampoo, pollution, and oils. The second wash actually cleans the skin.
You’ll notice the second time you apply shampoo, it lathers much more easily. That’s because the barrier of grease is gone. If you have a very active lifestyle or work in a greasy environment (like a kitchen), this is a game-changer. Just don't do it every single day, or you'll dry out your scalp and trigger that rebound oil production we talked about.
Kitchen Remedies That Actually Work
You don’t always need a $40 bottle of salon-grade scalp scrub. Some of the best ways to how to get rid of oil in hair are sitting in your pantry.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Rinse: This is the gold standard. Mix one part ACV with four parts water. After shampooing, pour it over your head and let it sit for a minute before rinsing. It helps reset the pH of your scalp. Most shampoos are slightly alkaline, and your scalp prefers to be slightly acidic. The ACV closes the hair cuticle and removes hard water minerals that make hair look dull and greasy.
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Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder: This is basically DIY dry shampoo. If you have blonde hair, you can use it straight. If you have dark hair, mix it with a little cocoa powder so you don't look like you’ve been caught in a snowstorm. Pat it onto your roots with a makeup brush, let it sit for two minutes to soak up the grease, and then brush it out.
Tea Tree Oil: If your oily hair is accompanied by an itchy scalp or dandruff, add two drops of tea tree oil to your shampoo. It’s a natural antifungal and antibacterial agent. It helps clear out the pores on your scalp without being overly harsh.
Breaking the Dry Shampoo Addiction
Dry shampoo is a literal lifesaver, but it’s also a trap. If you use it three days in a row, you’re creating a "paste" of powder and sebum on your scalp. This can clog follicles and, in extreme cases, lead to hair thinning or "scalp acne."
Think of dry shampoo as a localized band-aid, not a replacement for a shower. When you do finally wash your hair after using dry shampoo, you absolutely must use a clarifying treatment or a scalp brush to ensure all that powder is gone. Otherwise, you’re just building layers of gunk.
The Role of Your Hairbrush
When was the last time you cleaned your hairbrush? Be honest. If you’re brushing clean hair with a brush that’s full of old oil, skin cells, and product residue, you’re just painting grease back onto your head.
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You should be washing your brushes once a week. Pull out the hair, then soak the brush in a bowl of warm water with a little bit of shampoo. Scrub between the bristles with an old toothbrush. It’s gross to see what comes off, but your hair will stay clean significantly longer afterward. Also, stop touching your hair throughout the day. Your hands have natural oils and dirt that transfer instantly to those front pieces.
Diet and Hormones: The Internal Factor
Sometimes the solution isn't topical. If you've tried every shampoo under the sun and you're still greasy six hours later, it might be internal. High-glycemic diets—lots of sugar and white bread—can cause a spike in insulin, which in turn can boost androgen levels. Androgens are the hormones that tell your oil glands to go crazy.
B-vitamins, specifically B2 (riboflavin) and B6 (pyridoxine), are crucial for regulating sebum production. You can find these in things like spinach, beans, and poultry. Zinc is another big one. If you’re deficient in zinc, your skin and scalp are often the first places to show it through inflammation or excess oil.
The "Training" Myth
You’ve probably heard people say you can "train" your hair to be less oily by not washing it. This is a half-truth. While it’s true that over-washing causes irritation, you can't actually change the biological rate at which your glands produce oil.
What actually happens when you "train" your hair is that your scalp reaches a point of homeostasis where it’s not being constantly stripped, so it stops overcompensating. But if you’re naturally a high-sebum producer, you will always be a high-sebum producer. The goal is management, not a total biological overhaul.
Practical Steps to Take Today
If you’re ready to get control of the grease, start with these specific actions. Don't try to do everything at once, or you won't know what's actually working.
- Switch to a sulfate-free shampoo for daily use, but keep a "heavy duty" clarifying shampoo for once-a-week deep cleans. Sulfates are great at removing oil, but they are often too aggressive for daily use.
- Wash your pillowcase. Oil from your hair transfers to the silk or cotton, and then you lay your face and hair back on it the next night. Swap it out every 2-3 days.
- Try a "pre-wash" treatment. Applying a salicylic acid scalp treatment before you get in the shower can help dissolve the oil bonds that regular shampoo misses.
- Blow-dry your roots. Leaving your hair to air dry can sometimes let the oil "set" and spread more easily. A quick blast of air at the roots can add volume and keep the hair lifted off the scalp, preventing it from soaking up sebum as quickly.
- Evaluate your stress levels. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is closely linked to oil production. There's a reason you often break out or get greasy hair right before a big presentation or exam.
Managing oily hair is a marathon. You might find that your hair needs more washing in the summer when it's humid and less in the winter when the air is dry. Listen to your scalp. If it's itchy and tight, you're over-cleaning. If it's flat and shiny, it's time for a scrub. Finding that middle ground is the secret to hair that looks fresh and healthy every day.